The Air Force has named Richard Lombardi the interim assistant secretary for acquisition, temporarily replacing William LaPlante, who resigned his post last month to take up a senior position at the MITRE Corp., Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said Dec. 2. Lombardi served as the principal deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, where he was the senior civilian assistant to LaPlante. Lombardi served in the Air Force in acquisition management positions and retired as a colonel in July 2004. James said the Air Force will work through its “process” to find a permanent acquisition chief, but ultimately it will be the White House’s decision to hire LaPlante’s replacement.
The Pentagon has concluded a new agreement to buy laser-guidance kits that turn rockets into drone-killing weapons. BAE Systems and the Defense Department announced a framework deal of up to seven years for 25,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System guidance kits annually for the U.S. military.